John Riley Lyrics - Tim O'brien

John Riley came from Galway town in the years of the Irish hunger 

And he sailed away to America when the country was much younger 

Now the place was strange and work was scarce 

And all he knew was farming 

So he followed his other Irish friends to a job in the US Army 

Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story 

How some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory 

Now they marched down Texas way to the banks of the Rio Grande 

They built a fort on the banks above to taunt old Santa Anna 

They were treated bad and paid worse, and then the fighting started 

And the more they fought the less they thought of the damned old US Army 

Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story 

How some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory 

Now when the church bells rang on Sunday morn, it set his soul a shiver 

He saw the Senoritas washing their hair on the far side of the river 

Then John Riley and two hundred more Irish mercenaries 

And they cast their lot, right or not, south of the Rio Grande 

Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story 

How some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory 

How they fought bravely under the flag of the San Patricios 

Till the Yankees soldiers beat them down at the battle of Churubusco 

Then fifteen men were whipped like mules 

On the cheeks they were hot iron branded 

Made to dig the graves of fifty more, who a hanging fate had handed 

Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story 

How some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory 

Now John Riley stands and drinks alone at a bar in Vera Cruz 

And he wonders if it matters much if you win or if you lose 

"Well, I'm a man who can't go home, I'm a vagabond", says he 

"I'm a victim of some wanderlust and divided loyalty" 

Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story 

How some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory 

Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story 

How some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory